March 2005

High Impact Designation Provides Increased Incentives for Financial Services Companies. Florida has recently designated select businesses within the Financial Services Industry as “High Impact” giving the growing industry a boost and providing tax credits to existing businesses or relocating companies.  Banking, insurance, credit processing and securities institutions will be eligible for Florida’s Capital Tax Investment Credit and High Impact Performance Incentive. For more information, click here, or call Paula Spink with Pinellas County Economic Development at (727) 464-7347.

Florida's New Minimum Wage Takes Effect May 2.  Florida's minimum wage was created in a constitutional amendment approved by voters on November 2, 2004. It will start at $6.15 per hour for all hours worked in Florida and thereafter be indexed to inflation each year.  For tipped employees meeting eligibility requirements, employers may count tips actually received as wages towards satisfaction of the minimum wage, but the employer may not pay less than $3.13 per hour in direct wages.  For more information, click here.

Business Plan Competition Seeks Next Big Idea. The Tampa Junior Chamber of Commerce – Tampa Jaycees – is sponsoring a business plan competition for Tampa Bay entrepreneurs under the age of 40. Business plans will be judged by a panel of experts and entrepreneurs will receive feedback, tips and suggestions to implement a successful business venture. Judging will be limited to the first 50 plans submitted and all plans must be received by April 1, 2005.  After judging, the top three technology or manufacturing business plan entries will be invited to submit their plans to the vetting committee of the STAR TEC technology and manufacturing accelerator in Largo for consideration as tenants.  For more information or to submit your plan, click here, or visit www.startecflorida.com.

Do You Have a Product or Service to Sell to Pinellas County? The Pinellas County Business Development Center is hosting How to do Business with Pinellas County on March 24, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. This no-cost introductory seminar will explain the Pinellas County Purchasing Program and the Small Business Assistance Procurement Program. Participants will receive personal instruction and assistance from Pinellas County’s Purchasing Director, Joe Lauro, on how to register their business to become a licensed vendor with Pinellas County Government, and learn how to respond to bids for products/services. To register, e-mail businesshelp@siliconbay.org or call (727) 453-7200.   

Connect with Government Purchasing Representatives at Trade Show on March 9.  The Tampa Bay Area Chapter of the National Institute of Government Purchasing is hosting its First Annual Reverse Trade Show to partner Tampa Bay businesses with twenty government vendors. Together, these vendors spend in excess of $1 billion annually on goods and services ranging from office supplies to building construction. The event will be held at the Tampa Convention Center and participants may register to attend the morning session from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or the afternoon session from 1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. The cost is $70. To register, call (813) 301-7067.

Arbitration and Mediation for Small Businesses Seminar on March 9. Join arbitration specialists Dan and Peggy O’Shea of Arbitration Specialist, LLC, as they provide a brief overview of the arbitration process and provide tips for business owners at a Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce workshop.  The event will be held on March 9, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Palm Harbor Library. The cost is $20 in advance ($25 at the door). To register, call the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce at (727) 784-4287 or email info@palmharborcc.org.

Happy Feet Plus: First Store in the Country to Receive Energy Efficiency Award.  Happy Feet Plus, Clearwater location, is the first retail store in the country to be gold certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) standards. Happy Feet Plus’ green building is completely self-sustaining and constructed with features, technologies, and products that reduce the use of water and electricity, conserving our natural resources. For more information, call Emily Witzleben at (813) 948-6400.

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA Wakes Up to A Cost of Living 6% Below the National Average. According to ACCRA, the Tampa Bay MSA’s cost of living and coffee prices are below the national average, with St. Petersburg-Clearwater reporting a 93.9% cost of living, about 6% below the national average. The area is also the third least expensive urban area to purchase coffee in the United States. ACCRA measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services and compares over 50,000 prices for 60 distinct items. To read the full release, click here.

Pinellas County Business Development Center Releases New Schedule of Training Classes for March 2005.  The center offers business training in marketing, financing, business start-up, accounting procedures, government contracting, and market research. To view the schedule, click here.